Board learns about honors, EME choir, before business

The attendees at last week’s Marion County School District Board of Education meeting enjoyed a little entertainment before getting down to business.

After honoring the valedictorians, salutatorians and STAR Students from East and West Marion high schools (See graduation photos on pages 4B and 11B), the Board heard a sampling of music from the East Marion Elementary School Choir under the direction of Barbara Johnson.

“This group recently received ‘superior’ ratings in competition at William Carey University,” Superintendent Wendy Bracey said. “We are so proud of them.”

The group then performed three selections for the Board and audience including a version of “You’re a Grand Old Flag” accompanied in sign language. The Board then went about its regular business which including:

• Approved 18 fundraisers for school groups.

• Approved of a donation of 26 SMART boards from the Pearl Public School District.

• Approved of the summer work schedule.

• Reviewed various Board policies.

• Approved of several student transfers.

• Approved of an out-of-state trip for the East Marion Save the Children Summer program to the Louisiana Art and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, La., on June 29.

• Approved of travel for Bracey and Heather Martin to Minneapolis for writing grant training June 19-21.

• Approved of Trustmark Bank as the school district’s depository.

• Approved to advertise for bids for diesel and gasoline for the 2018-19 school year.

• Approved several 16th Section Land leases and cancellations.

• Opened bids for several 16th Section Land tracts.

• Approved scheduling a special meeting for June 25 at 6 p.m. to close out the fiscal year and for personnel issues.

• Approved the resignations of Kimbra Haynes Dawkins, a teacher at East Marion Elementary, Nick Roberts, seventh and eighth-grade teacher at East Marion, Vikki Sims from East Marion’s Save the Children program, Kathryn Selman, health science instructor at the Marion County Carl Loftin Career & Technology Center, Audra Sullivan, West Marion High School secondary mathematics teacher, Melissa Singley, teacher in the district, Chris Pigott, engineering instructor at the career center, Heather Penton, third-grade teacher at West Marion primary and Victoria Liles and Jessica Anthony, both teachers at WMP.

• Approved minutes from an April 24 special meeting that included resignations of Annice Martin as a bus driver and bus shop helper; Todd Harmon as a school bus driver; Tanesha McCarty, EME teacher; Angela Bernier, EME teacher; Louise Magee, West Marion special education teacher; Violet Thompson, East Marion teacher; Portia D. Hull, principal at East Marion Elementary; Hope McDaniel, teacher at WMP, Lacey McElroy, teacher at WMP; Betty Daniels, teacher at WMP; Leanne Bilbo, kindergarten teacher at WMP; Susan Smith Johnson, teacher at WMP; Clarice J. Husband, special services teacher; Dewana McCain, teacher at WMP; Lindsey Shepherd, teacher; Jana Hodges, ICT II teacher and Jr. Beta Club sponsor at WMHS and Tracey Magee, secretary at WMHS. In the same minutes, the Board voted to approve the employment of Sarah Stogner as a special education teacher. The board also voted to allow Carley Haines to rescind her letter of resignation and reemploy for the 2018-19 school year.

• The Board also approved employment for current teachers, administrative staff and other positions around the district.

Pictured Above: Members of East Marion’s Elementary School Choir perform at the Marion County Board of Edcuation meeting recently. The choir earned superior ratings for its performances at William Carey University. | Photo by Mark Rogers